In 1997 kimberlite was discovered at Snap Lake, 137 miles northeast of Yellowknife. De Beers Canada bought the mining rights in the fall of 2000. In 2004 permits for construction and operation were granted.

Unlike most diamond-bearing kimberlite deposits that are pipes, the Snap Lake ore body is a two-and-a-half-meter-thick dyke that dips from the northwest shore down under the lake. Thus, Snap Lake is Canada’s first completely underground diamond mine.

Snap Lake mine officially opened in 2008. According to De Beers’s website, by the end of 2010, $1.5 billion had been spent on construction and operation. Of that total, $1.077 billion had gone to NWT-based contractors and suppliers, including $676 million with aboriginal businesses or joint ventures.

The article on Snap Lake concluded with a statement emphasizing De Beers’s commitment to sustainable development in local communities, and pointing out that the Snap Lake mine had signed impact-benefit agreements with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, the Tlicho Government, the North Slave Métis Alliance, and the Lutsel K’e and Kache Dene First Nation.

Between the lines, I got a whiff of the aboriginal-versus-mining hostility to which Ollie had alluded.

I was trying Katy for the gazillionth time, now genuinely concerned about Birdie, when a loud knock rattled my door. I crossed to it and squinted through the peephole.

Ryan.

Something was wrong.

Chapter 24

“CASTAIN’S DEAD.”

Ryan strode past me and began pacing my room.

“What?”

“Someone shot him.”

“When?”

“About an hour ago.”

“Where?”

“Three rounds to the chest. Christ. Does it matter?”

“No.” Having to track a moving target wasn’t helping my comprehension. “I meant where was Castain when it happened?”

“Banging his girlfriend.”

“Stop pacing.”

Ryan never slowed.

“Do they have the shooter?”

“No.”

“But he was under surveillance.”

Ryan snorted loudly. “Rainwater’s idea of a tail was to ping-pong a car between Snook, Unka, and Castain.”

“Jesus.”

“Claims he doesn’t have enough manpower to maintain surveillance in three locations.”

“That may be legit.”

“Why the fuck didn’t he say so? You and I could have taken Snook. Or Sergeant Shithead could have sat on her.”

I ignored that. “So no one’s watching the house on Ragged Ass?”

“You know the annual homicide count in Yellowknife?”

I didn’t.

“Every chump with a badge will want a piece of this one.”

“Is Unka a suspect?” I asked.

“One among many.”

“Where is he?”

“In the wind.”

“What about Scar?”

“Ditto.”

“Shit.”

“Exactly. I’m heading to the scene.”

I grabbed my jacket, and we raced to the Camry.

*  *  *

Ryan smoked. Didn’t ask if I minded. Just lit up.

I rode with my window down, shivering and breathing as shallowly as possible without getting dizzy.

Castain’s girlfriend was a stripper named Merilee Twiller. Mercifully, she lived not far from the Explorer.